PART 1
KNOW THE ASPIRANTS OF THE PARTIES STARTING WITH THE APC:
COLOUR, RAZZMATAZZ AS BATTLE FOR LAGOS HOTS UP…
With barely a few weeks for all the Political Parties to either conduct their Primary Elections or adopt a Consensus Selection Process of their Governorship Candidates vying for the plum job of Lagos State Cockpit the governorship, the State is abuzz with all manners of wild rumours of endorsements and political shenanigans and various optics .
Although, indices point to the fact that the race in all the parties may not necessarily in some instances like in the past pick the best Candidates but for the endorsed ones by the Kingmakers of each parties, or the ones with the deepest pockets, financially.
It is our hope that this year’s process will produce the best and the most acceptable Candidates based on justice, inclusivity , equity, fairness, and transparency.
No question about it that in Lagos State, the race to select the next occupant of the Lagos House, Alausa, after the incumbent Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has already hots up.
Just late last week, a Member of the Federal House of Representatives from Ikeja Federal Constituency, Hon. James Faleke flew a kite.
He announced publicly the selection of Deputy Governor Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat as the APC Candidate.
The announcement came from his unverified Facebook post.
Earlier in the week, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, had flown a similar kite.
He tactically announced a one-term former Governor, Mr. Akin Ambode at an event in Agege as the Candidate .
These and other series of rumours were part of the game in Lagos State politics until an official announcement comes from the top hierarchy of the Party .
With the fast paced breaking of events in the political arena in the State, www.focusmagazineonline.com has decided to look at the profile of the combatants, who have already, either by outright declaration or by mere body language, indicated their interest in the plum job.
No question about it that Lagos State both economically, politically and even socially is the undisputed heart-beat of our dear Country.
It’s a commercial mega hub of the Nation.
Make no mistake, Lagos State, both economically, politically and even socially, is really the heart-beat of the Country.
The aquatic state drives the economic indices and also regulates the political and socioeconomic direction of the Country.
Therefore, every contest for the Governorship seat always attracts nationwide attention with all political intrigues in full deployment.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
The State had been governed by a total of (15 ) fifteen Governors since it was created by Decree 31 of May 27, 1967 by the States Creation and Transitional Provisions Decree No. 14.
Nine (9) of these Governors were Military men, while the incumbent Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is the 6th (sixth) democratically elected Governor of the State .
The State, at its creation in 1967 was divided into 5 (five) Administrative/Political and Cultural Divisions, namely: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos (Eko), and Epe.
This is generally called IBILE.
The Governorship seat has been rotating among the five divisions without noticeable rancour.
Even the Military seemed to have taken into cognizance the importance of respecting these Divisions.
The first Military Administrator, Mobolaji Johnson was from the Lagos Island Division, while Air Commodore Mudashiru Lawal was from Ikorodu Division.
Other military administrators like, Commodore Adekunle Lawal, Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Navy Captain Mike Akhigbe , Brigadier Raji Rasaki, Col. Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Col. Buba Marwa were from other States of the Federation.
The Civilian Governors have also followed the Divisional Groupings deliberately .
From the Second Republic.
First it was Alhaji Lateef Jakande, ( Muslim) who came out from Mushin in Ikeja Division.
When the short-lived Third Republic came, all eyes were on Epe Division to produce the Governor.
At the General Election, two Epe sons, late Chief Micheal Otedola and Mr. Yomi Edu squared up against each other.
Sir Micheal Otedola ( Christian ) won .
The current Fourth Republic has produced 4 (four) Governors.
They are: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ( Muslim ) 1999 – 2007, from Ikeja Division.
Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola ( Muslim ) 2007 – 2015, from Lagos Island Division.
Mr. Akinwumi Ambode ( Christian ) 2015 – 2019, from Epe Division .
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu ( Christian ) 2019 – 2027, from Lagos Island Division.
However, it is pertinent to observe that from the Progressive Party there have been 3 ( three) Governors who are Muslims and 2 (two) who are Christians democratically elected.
With the foregoing analysis, the Badagry Division, a huge community of predominantly indigenous natives of Awori and Ogu ancestry in the State are feeling badly and disdainfully treated and are increasingly becoming fed up with this awful nomenclature of being seen as second class citizens not even as indigenous natives in their only major ancestral homeland.
It is their belief therefore that their Badagry Federal Constituency should be considered to produce the Governor in 2027.
After all , the Epe Federal Constituency was deliberately given the Governorship slot in the Third Republic.
They are also citing the example of the 1999 arrangement at the Federal level, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Olu Falae, both Yoruba and Christians were the only two deliberately chosen Candidates of the two major Political Parties for the Presidential Election in 1999 as a doctrine of necessity.
Our findings reveal that from the Badagry Division, some quality aspirants have indicated their interests in the hot seat.
They are young, vibrant and looked absolutely ready willing , capable to paddle the canoe of the aquatic State.
Other Divisions are not keeping quiet too.
Those that have indicated their interests are flaunting their rich credentials.
All seemed ready to give the race all the colour and razzmatazz it deserves.
Details will be in subsequent editions which will also include the comprehensive profiles of only the frontrunners then .
Please stay online .
However in the Advanced Democratic Congress, (ADC), Mr. Gbolabo Rhodes-Vivour is the only known name for now.
He has spoken at a different forum, stating his intention to contest the Governorship.
For now, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is quiet about the Governorship Election.
The State Chairman, Hon. Phillips Aivoji told www.focusmagazineonline.com that the party is re-strategizing following the crises at the national level.
READ ALSO: Osun Le Tente: The Cat-and-Mouse Race Between Adeleke and Oyebamiji
As it is, the race may be an APC’s race. And whosoever emerges as the Candidate may simply win the Governorship race in February 2027 without any fuss.
THE APC ASPIRANTS
Mr. Akinwumi Ambode
A name unsurprisingly being touted by some party stalwarts, is that of the one term former Governor of the State, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode.
www.focusmagazineonline.com recalled that Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, who emerged from Epe Division in 2014 as the Governor allegedly left the office in what can be termed in a rancorous manner in 2019 .
But he has been striving hard to mend fences with the party’s leadership since then. Mr. Ambode needs no further introduction.
His is an iconic household name that requires no introduction.
Mr. Akinwumi Ambode emerged from the Epe Division in 2014 .
He did his very best in the infrastructure development of the State among his numerous accomplishments across the State .
He was a Governor between 2015 – 2019.
He emerged from a rancorous Primary Election and left after an equally rancorous Primary Election, which saw him defeated with a huge margin of almost 1 million votes to his less than 120 , 000 votes.
But www.focusmagazineonline.com learnt that he has been trying to mend fences with the party leaders he had issues with since then .
However at a function in Agege recently, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, while inviting him to the high table, announced his name as “Ambo; Atide” “We’re coming; We’re here “.
Politically, this is loaded with meanings at such a public gathering .
But one issue that challenged his fate in the 2018 Primary Election was his Igbokoda, an Ilaje settlement in Ondo State origin.
Both his parents were said to be from Igbokoda in Ondo State.
Opponents went as far as publishing a photocopy of his Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB’s University Admission Form he filled in 1981, where he filled Ondo State as his State of Origin.
Ambode however still has a coterie of supporters among the populace, even though he doesn’t have a very strong political structure on the ground .
He was seen as a performing Governor, only shadowed by the crises with the party leaders, especially those in charge of Refuse Management.
PROFILE
His father and mother are from Igbokoda town, an Ilaje community in Ondo State .
He wants to represent the Epe Division again in the 2027 Governorship Election.
Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat – KOH
Already, the known faces in the race include the current Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat popularly called KOH.
Dr Hamzat, www.focusmagazineonline.com can recall that he has perennially been in the race since 2014.
Deputy Governor Hamzat has not openly declared his interests, but his body language and the activities of his political Platform are giving him out.
He hopes to come out from Epe in the Epe Division.
It will be recalled that his father, the late Oba Hamzat while active in Lagos politics was a titan from Mushin in Ikeja Division.
Although, our findings both in Lagos and Ewekoro town in Ogun State where the father was a monarch before his passing, revealed that both the parents of KOH were from Ewekoro town but he wants to represent Epe in the race .
His late Monarch father was said to have married two wives while alive.
The first wife was from his paternal town in Ewekoro, while the younger one was from Epe
KOH is said to be the son of the first wife.
PROFILE .
His father and mother are from Ewekoro town in Ogun State .
Dr. Olajide Adediran – Jandor
Also in the race is Mr. Olajide Adediran popularly called Jandor.
Mr Adediran from the Badagry Division, was the Peoples Democratic Party PDP’s Candidate in the last governorship election in the State.
He came a distant third scoring 50,000 plus votes in the Election.
He has since switched to the ruling APC to pursue his Governorship ambition.
Jandor as he is popularly is called is a veteran in the race.
A media mogul who wants to represent Badagry Federal Constituency in this Election.
But www.focusmagazineonline.com gathered from the town folks that it is his mother that was from Ojo town, while his late father was from Ekiti State.
PROFILE
His father is from a village close to Ado Ekiti, in Ekiti State while his mother is from Ojo .
Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose – SMA GOLD
From Badagry comes the one being touted as the Hope of the Division in the race .
Dr. Samuel Mawuyon Ajose is a totally new breed politician who is untainted by the shenanigans of the past
He has taken the Division and the State by storm since he declared his interest in the race.
SMA is a core Lagosian.
Both parents are from the State .
The late father was Ogu from Badagry town, while his mother was an Awori woman from Ipaja / Ikorodu respectfully .
Therefore, one sacroscant sentiment that is in his favour is the indigenous factor.
The silent agitation is that no Badagry nor an Awori son or daughter has ever been Governor of the State since its creation in 1967 rapidly gaining unprecedented momentum .
The narrative in fact is already gaining positive reactions among the political class in the State.
Our findings reveal that SMA is an enlightened intellectual and a globally recognized businessman with a very deep well of kindness, and a very progressive minded party man.
He has changed the political tempo and narrative of the Badagry Division since he declared his interest in the plum job of the State.
He is being overwhelmingly supported as the Hope of the Division in the race.
SMA is a vibrant , brilliant , humble , greatly philanthropic and very enterprising young man who at present is the Group Chairman of a globally rated conglomerate which has many Nigerians in its top notch Executive Positions and others in all aspects of its activities .
A totally new breed and untainted by the shenanigans or the unnecessary optics of the past .
He has taken the Division by storm and impacted its political dynamics and awareness since he declared his interest to run .
PROFILE
He is a bonafide indigenous native of Lagos State.
He is from Badagry.
His father is from Badagry while his mother is from Ipaja / Ikorodu.
CONCLUSION
Please note that this information about the most popular APC’s Aspirants who are from the Ruling Party in the State are without any prejudice please , and are based on our well researched findings .
This Publication is solely in our people’s overall interest and to guide the Electorates in the choice of their Candidates .
